Should You Learn to Drive?

There is a lot of chatter around why Gen Z doesn’t want to drive, the answer is usually down to three main factors: cost, confidence, and environmental concerns.

According to our survey, a massive 47% of young people say they aren’t driving because they would struggle to pay for lessons. It’s a fair point – learning isn’t cheap. It’s not just the cost of learning, though. 13% of Gen Z also said they haven’t learnt because they wouldn’t be able to afford the upkeep of a car. When you add in the worry about running costs, it’s easy to see why many stick to public transport or Uber, rather than taking on the financial burden of driving.

Confidence is another huge barrier:

• 27% of under-30s we spoke to are adamant they wouldn’t pass the theory test 
• 20% feel they have no chance of passing the practical exam. 
• 13% of respondents said they are simply too nervous to get behind the wheel
• 13% are too anxious to drive on motorways
• 7% would feel too self-conscious to park in front of people. 

The younger generation has many valid concerns about the roads, which makes learning to drive a much lower priority for them. 

We are also seeing a shift in environmental priorities. Our research highlights that 13% of 18-to-29-year-olds feel there are already too many cars on the road and prefer not to add to the traffic. For this environmentally conscious group, sticking to public transport is a proactive choice to help reduce congestion.

These are all completely normal feelings and valid choices. But should you let them stop you from learning to drive?

If you’ve decided to go for it, your next question is likely: when can you start learning to drive? To keep things simple, here are the key legal milestones you need to know:

• 15 years and 9 months: You can apply for your provisional driving licence.
• 17 years old: You can legally start learning to drive a car on public roads.
• 16 years old: You can start driving a year early if you receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Once you are old enough to learn to drive, it’s important to remember a few key points, though:

• Learner drivers can never drive alone.
• Whenever driving outside of lessons with an approved driving instructor, learners must be supervised by someone who meets specific criteria. 
• Learners must be insured for practice sessions. 

While you can technically start the moment you turn 17, when do most people actually learn? Historically, most learners got behind the wheel as soon as they were legally allowed to. It was often seen as the next logical step after finishing school or starting college. For many, turning 17 meant booking that first lesson right away to gain independence from their parents.

However, trends are changing. As our survey shows, many young people are now waiting longer. The rise of Uber, the high cost of living, and the expense of running a car mean the rush to drive at 17 isn’t as intense as it used to be. 

Knowing when you can learn to drive is the easy part – deciding when is the right time for you to learn is what matters most.

If costs and fears are getting in the way of you getting a full licence, you might be tempted to give up learning to drive. But even if learning is too expensive or feels too scary, there are ways to make it manageable.

Tackling the Cost: Driving lessons are an investment, but you can reduce the overall cost by getting private practice outside of your professional lessons. Temporary insurance is one of the cheapest ways to insure learner drivers for practice sessions like these. You only pay for the cover when you actually need it for sessions. So, you can still learn to drive without purely relying on paid-for lessons and forking out loads on insurance. Practising with a parent or friend helps you master the basics without paying an instructor’s hourly rate for every single mile.

Building Confidence: If nerves are holding you back, remember that confidence comes from experience. The more time you spend behind the wheel, the more in control you’ll feel. It’s not about being fearless; it’s about having the experience to handle whatever the road throws at you. To help build driving confidence, try these tips:

• Start small: Begin in quiet areas like empty car parks before tackling busy roads.
• Practice in different conditions: Don’t just drive on sunny days; try driving in the rain or at dusk with a supervisor to broaden your experience in a safe environment.
• Know your vehicle: Spending time sitting in the car, learning the controls without moving, can reduce anxiety.

If gears are the issue, consider learning automatic. Removing the clutch from the equation can make learning feel much less overwhelming.

We know that one of the biggest hurdles is the cost of insurance for private practice. Many parents worry about how much it costs to add a learner driver to their insurance, fearing it will hike up their premium or risk their No Claims Discount.

This is where we can help. Temporary learner driver insurance is designed to be flexible and affordable. You can get cover from just one hour up to six months at a time. It sits as a separate policy, meaning if you do have a minor bump while practising, the car owner’s main insurance policy – and their No Claims Discount – is completely unaffected. Plus, you only pay for the time you need, whether that’s a weekend session or a few hours before your test.

Our short-term cover ensures you are legal, safe, and building those crucial skills without breaking the bank.